Edge-rounding machine



' w. OWEN EDGE ROUNDING MACHINE Filed: March so, 1928 2 Sheets-SheetINVENTOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W. OWEN EDGE RO UNDINGMACHINE Filed March 50,1928 Aug. 13, 1929.

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Patented Aug. 13, 1929.

1 UNITED STATES 1,724,672 PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM OWEN, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO'PITTSBURGH PLATEGLASS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA. Y

EDGE-ROUN DING MACHINE.

Application filed'March 30, 1928. Serial No. 265,895.

The invention relates to machines for rounding the edges of sheets ofhard material, such as glass, marble and the like and constitutes animprovement over the machine shown in my Patent No. 1,660,350. Theinvention has to do with the roughing units, and the improved roughingunit of the present application may be substituted for a part only ofthe individual roughing units or machines of said patent, or may takethe place of all of said roughing units of the patent. WVhen used in conunction with the roughing units of said patent, the present units willfollow such other unlts and remove the lines of demarcation between thevarious 'fiat surfaces left by the first units, and round such surfacesinto a continuous' curve. The invention has for its principal objectsthe provision of animproved unit, which is simple and positive inoperation and permits'the grinding wheels to be used indefinitelywithout resurfacing or replacement; in which the grinding wheels may beeasily adjusted to compensate for any wearing away of the grindingsurfaces; whose use eliminates any requirement for subsequentlyfinishing the edges of the sheets by passing them over the edges ofgrooved wheels as is done in said patent; and which will round the edgesof the sheets without chipping them even when the machine is used uponcomposite glass reinforced with celluloid. One embodiment of theinvention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the apparatus. Fig. 2 is a.section on the line I'I-II of Fig. 1. And Fig. 3 is a section on theline IIIIII of Fig. 2.

The glass sheets 1, whose edges are to b ground, are carried alonghorizontally by means of a pair of endless belts 2, 2, constructed andoperated in accordance with said patent heretofore referred to, saidbelts being provided with a plurality of clamping members 3 whichyieldingly engage the opposite sides of the sheets and hold themsecurely against vertical movement. The chains carrying the devices 3, 3are supported in the guideways 4, textending long1- tudinally of thepath of movementof the sheets and supported at suitable intervals by thestandards or frame members 5 which rest upon the floor 6. The outersides of the frame members carry the guides 7, 7 for supporting thereturn flights of the chains 2, 2. Bolted to the members 4, 4 are theU-shaped members 8 which act as the supports for the grinding machines,such members each being provided with a pair of segmental bearings 9, 9in which the trunnions 10, 10 of the grinder frame 11 are journaled foroscillation back and forth, aslater described.

The grinder frame 11 is an integral casting having its center bored outlongitudinally and carrving the sleeve 12, such sleeve being mounted forlongitudinal ad'ustment in the frame. The sleeve is provi ed with twosets of roller bearings 13 and 14 and in these roller bearings arejournaled the axle 15 of the grinding wheel 16. This grinding wheel isof cup form in that it has its center cut out and is releasably secured.to the end of the axle by means of the nut 17. The center of the wheel,is substantially in alignment with the center lines of the trunnions10, 10, so that in the operation, as later described, the axleoscillates around the center line of the trunnions and around the edgesof the sheets of glass 1 to be ground as they travel alon this centerline. The axle 15 of the grin ing wheel is tilted slightly wit-h respectto the center line of the trunnions 10, 10, and with respect to the lineof travel of the edges of the sheets, as indicated in Fig. 2, so that inoperation only one side of the. wheel engages the glass, it having beenfound that chipping results when both sides of the wheel engage theglass at the same time.

The axle is driven from the electric motor 18, whose drive shaft 19 isin alignment with the axle 15. Thevdrive shaft fits inside theaxle andhas a splined engagement therewith, so that the axle may be adjustedlongitudinally to reposition the wheel as its face wears away during thecourse of a lon period of operation. provided with suitable packing, islocated at the lower end of the sleeve 12 and serves to hold lubricantand keep dirt away from the bearings. A similar plate 21 is employed atthe upper end of the axle. Threaded into the side of the sleeve is themember 22 which extends through a slot 23 in the motor frame 11. Thismember is provided with a passage closed by a fitting 24 through Aclosure plate 20, I

M the motor frame forth by J pivoted at which lubricant may be forcedinto the space around the axle for lubricating the bearings. The member22 is provided with a head having the series of recesses '25 for theinsertion of a turning tool and by rotating this head, the member 22 canbe tightly clamped against the frame, thus holding the sleeve 12 againstmovement. The sleeve 12 may be adjusted longitudinally by means of thescrew 26 threaded through a lug on and having its head in engagementwith the head of the member 22. The head of this screw 26 is providedwith perforations in which a turning tool may be inserted. The members22 and 26, therefore, provide an adjustment and a holding means for thesleeve 12 so that this sleeve may be moved longitudinally of the motorframe and securely held in position. This provides a means for adjustingthe axle 1 5 longitudinally and the wheel 16 carried thereby tocompensate for the wearing away of the face of the wheel.

The motor frame 11 is oscillated back and means of the connecting rod 27one end to the frame 11 at 28 and at its other end to the crank 29 atthe point 30. The crank is rotated from the motor 31 through theintermediary of the reduction gears 32, 33, 34 and 35, the latter beingmounted to turn with the crank. The throw of the axle is substantiallyvertical as its i the left of the vertical center line .tion.oscillating. wheels merely act as finishing of the crank is such thatthe motor frame and its axle are moved from the position shown in Fig. 1as one extreme of movement to a position in which the center line otherextreme of movement. The grinding wheel 16, therefore, rounds offone-half of the edge of the sheet 1, while the other half is rounded offby a second grinding wheel similar to the wheel 16 and carried by thegrinder frame 36. This grinder frame and the parts carried thereby arethe same throughout'as the one already described and its path ofmovement is such that it grinds off the portion of the edge of the sheetto of such sheet. These two grinding wheels might be used to do theentire rounding of the series of plates, but it is preferred todistribute this work among a lar er number of machines, each pair of macines doing a portion of the work. The increase in number of machinesmerely increases the capacity of the apparatus and the speed at whichthe sheets may be carried past the wheels. It is also quite feasible, asheretofore pointed out to partially grind the edges of the sheets bygrinding wheels such as those shown in my patent heretofore referred tobefore the glass reaches the oscillating grinding machines of thepresent applica- VVith this method of operation, the

5 wheels for truing up the edges and removing the lines of demarcationbetween the surfaces ground by the fixed grinding wheels.

Since the edge of the glass sheet being ground constitutes the'center ofoscillation of the axle of the grinding wheel, it is necessary toprovide clearance through the bearings 9 and trunnions 10 for thepassage of the glass sheets, and this is accomplished, as indicated inFigs. 2 and 3, by cutting away segments of the bearing and trunnions toprovide the necessary space. The segment which is cut out depends uponthe amount of oscillation required, and it is quite possible to vary theextent of this oscillation through a wide range. For instance, the throwof the crank might be so modified that the wheel would oscillate throughan arc of 90 degrees instead of only 45 degrees, in which case, the onewheel could be made to round off the entire edge. This would, of course,require a corresponding increase in the amount cut out of the trunnionsand the bearings. ater is supplied during the grinding operations from apipe 37, the jet being directed so as to engage the wheel where itcontacts with the glass. This water is collected in the recess 38 in thetop of the grinding frame and is carried away by the flexible pipe 39leading to the drain 40. The glass is steadied at its lower edge duringthe grinding operation by meansof the wheels 41, which are carried bythe bars 42. bolted to the members 8 (Fig. 2).

\Vhat I claim is:

1. In combination inan edge rounding machine, means for supporting aglass sheet and carrying it ahead, a grinding unit in the line of travelof one of the edges of the sheet comprising a driven abrading wheelhaving its axis of rotation extending approximately at right angles tothe line of movement of the edge of the sheet to be ground and mountedfor swinging movement around a center within such edge, and means forgiving the wheel such swinging movement as the edge of the sheet movesacross it.

2. In combination in an edge rounding machine, means for supporting aglass sheet and carrying it ahead, a grinding unit in the lme oftravelof one of the edges of the sheet comprising a driven abrading wheelhaving its axis of rotation extending approximately at r ght angles tothe line of movement of the edge of the sheet to be ground and mountedfor swinging movement through an angle of approximately 45 degreesaround a center within such edge, and means for giving the wheel suchswinging movement as the edge of the sheet moves, across it.

3. ln combination in an edge roundin machine, means for supporting aglass sheet and carrying it ahead, a grinding unit in the line of travelof one of the edges of the sheet comprising a driven abrading wheel ofcup form having an axle lying transverse to the line of travel of theedge of the sheet to be ground and mounted for swinging movement arounda center within such edge and means for swinging the axle back and forthas the sheet moves across the grinding surface of the abrading wheel.

4. In combination in an edge rounding machine, means for supporting aglass sheet and carrying it ahead, a grinding unit in the line of travelof one of the edges of the sheet comprising a driven abrading wheel ofcup form having an axle lying transverse to the line of travel of theedge of the sheet to be ground and mounted for swinging movement arounda center within such edge and means f5 swinging the axle back and forthas the sheet moves across the grinding surface of the abrading wheel,such axle being tilted slightly with respect to the line of movement ofsaid edge, so that the face of the wheel engages said edge on one sideonly of its center of rotation.

5. In combination in an edge rounding machine, means for supporting aglass sheet and carrying it ahead, a grinding unit in the line of travelof one of the edges of the sheet comprising a driven abrading wheel ofcup form having an axle lying transverse to the line of travel of theedge of the sheet to be ground and mounted for swinging movement arounda center within such edge between a position in which said axle is inapproximate alinement with the plane of the glass sheet and one in whichsuch axle is inclined to such plane at an angle of about 45 degrees.

6. In combination in an edge rounding machine, means for supporting aglass sheet and carrying it ahead, a grinding unit in the line of travelof one of the edges of the sheet comprising a driven abrading wheelcarried by an axle lying transversely of said line of travel of the edgeof the sheet to be ground, a frame in which said axle is journaledhaving a trunnion whose center of rotation is approximately in alinementwith said line of travel, a bearing for said trunnion, and means forswinging said frame back and. forth on its trunnion, a segment of saidtrunnion and of said bearing being cut away to give clearance for thepassage of said edge of the lass sheet therethrough.

7. In com ination in an edge rounding machine, means for supporting aglass sheet and carrying it ahead, a grinding unit in the line of travelof one of the edges of the sheet comprising an abrading wheel having anaxle lying transversely of said line of travel of the edge of the sheetto be ground, a frame in which an axle is journaled having a trunnionwhose center of rotation is approximately in alinement with said line oftravel, a bearing for said trunnion, an electric motor carried by saidframe in driving engagement with said axle and means for swinging saidframe back and forth on itstrunnion, a segment of said trunnion and ofsaid bearing being cut away to give clearance for the passage of saidedge of the glass sheet therethrough.

8. In combination in an edge rounding machine, means for supporting aglass sheet and carrying it ahead, a grinding unit in the line of travelof one of the edges of the sheet comprising an abrading wheel having anaxle lying transversely of said line of travel of the edge of the sheetto be ground, a frame in which an axle is journaled having a trunnionwhose center of rotation is approximately in alinement with said line oftravel, a bearing for said trunnion, an electric motor carried by saidframe with the driving shaft in alinement with and connected to saidaxle, and means for swinging said frame back and forth on its trunnion,a segment of said trunnion and of said bearing being cut away to giveclearance for the passage of said edge of the glass sheet therethrou h.

9. n combination in an edge rounding machine, means for supporting aglass sheet and carrying it ahead, a grinding unit in the line of travelof one of the edges of the sheet comprising an abrading wheel having anaxle lying transversely of said line of travel of the edge of the sheetto be ground, a frame in which an axle is journaled having a trunnionwhose center of rotation is approximately in alinement with said line oftravel, a bearing for said trunnion, an electric motor carried by saidframe with its driving shaft in alinement with said axle, a slipconnection between the shaft and axle permitting the longitudinaladjustment of the axle relative to the shaft, and a sleeve mounted inthe frame for longitudinal adjustment therein, in which said axle isjournaled.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 15th dayof March,-

WILLIAM OWEN.

